Gas lighter



Nov. 21, 1939. S T 2,180,616

GAS LIGHTER Filed Nov. 29. 1937 fizz en or EZMEE l1. SM/TH Patented Nov. 21, 1939 srArs GAS LIGHTER Elmer H. Smith, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Smith Welding Equipment Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationNovember 29, 1937, Serial No. 177,025 3 Claims. (o1. 67 6.1)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gas lighters and more particularly to such lighters of the spark-producing type, usually comprising a pyrophoric metal or element adapted to frictionally engage a suitable abrading element.

Some gas lighters, as now commonly constructed, are provided with a hood or cup-shaped element secured to one of the arms of the lighter in a position adjacent to the usual abrading and pyrophoric elements of the lighter. These hoods are nonperforate and therefore require that the lighter be held in a certain position with respect to theflo-w of gas to be ignited, so that the gas may be projected into the cup-shaped hood in the presence of the sparks generated bythe frictional engagement of the pyrophoric element with the abrading element, when the lighter is operated. It is not always convenient to thus hold the lighter in a certain position with respect to thegas jet to be lighted --and it is therefore desirable that the lighter be so constructed that it will light a gaseous fuel regardless of its position with respect to the directional flow thereof.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a gas lighter having means embodied inthe construction thereof, whereby'gas released from a torch or other device may readily be ignited by the lighter, regardless of the position of the lighter with respect to the directional flow of gas from the torch or burner.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a gas lighter comprising a pair of relatively movable arms, one carrying a suitable abrading element and the other a pyrophoric element adapted to frictionally engage the abrading element and thereby generate a spark, when the lighter is operated, and a perforated member being supported on one of said arms adjacent to said elements, which, when held over or adjacent to a flow of gas discharging from atorch or burner, will quickly cause the gas to intermix with the air, whereby instant ignition takes place when the igniter is operated, adjacent to the flow of gas.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the lighter, including the perforated member which is preferably permanently secured to one of the legs of the lighter; and, in the general arrangement and construction of the hood, whereby the operation of igniting the gas is greatly facilitated, primarily because of the turbulence imparted to the gas and air as it is directed through the small apertures in the hood, whereby a highly combustible mixture is provided which is readily ignitable. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In theaccompanying drawing there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe relative positions of the abrading and pyrophoric elements; and p Figure 5 is a view showing the perforations provided in the hood which cause turbulence of the gas when directed against the hood.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, for purposes of disclosure, a gas lighter comprising spaced arms 2 and 3 connected at one end by a suitable coil 4, as best illustrated in Figure 1. The arms 2 and 3 and spring coil 4 are preferably integrally formed of spring wire, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1,

whereby a very substantial and light wei ht structure isprovided, which will give long service without trouble.

A suitable abrading element 5 is secured to the bent terminal or end portion 6 of the arm 3. The

terminal 1 of the ofiset end portion 6 of the arm 3 is preferably bent downwardly, as shown in Figure 4;, thereby to prevent thefile o-r abrading element 5, which preferably is cylindrical in cross,

section, from becoming detached from the arm 3.

The arm 2v is shown having its terminal bent upwardly, as shown at 8 in Figure 4, and supports thereon a suitable holder 9 for receiving a piece of pyrophoric metal l0, one end of which frictionally engages the periphery of the abrading element 5. -W'hen the resilient arms 2 and 3 are pressed together, as shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 1, a spark is generated, which may be used for lighting a gas torch, a furnace, or any other devices to be lighted.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the hood, generally indicated by the numeral II, which, as shown in suitable perforations 12. These perforations permit air to circulate through the hood, and when the gas jet is directed into the hood, as shown at A in Figure 3, portions of the gas will quickly intermix as a result of circulation through the perforations I 2, whereby a highly combustible mixture is provided which ignites almost instantaneously.

By means of the perforations l2, gas discharging from a torch or burner, may readily be ignited, regardless of the angle at which the hood is held with respect thereto.

In Figure 2, I have shown, bythe arrows C, D, and E, three different angles at which the gas may be directed towards the hood I l, and in each instance, the mixture is instantly ignited, when the arms of the lighter are relatively moved, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figure 1, to cause the pyrophoric element ID to friction-' ally engage the surface of the abrading element 5 and thereby cause a spark.

As previously stated, the broad feature of providing a hood in connection with a lighter of the class described, is not new. It is new, however, to provide a hood having perforations through which portions of air and gas may circulate, when the device is held in close proximity to the gas discharging from a cutting torch or burner, thereby to cause a turbulence of the gas, which results in a readily ignitable fuel mixture.

The number of perforations provided in the hood I 1 may be varied as desired, it being understood that they are of such number and size as to permit free air and gas circulation therethrough, when'the device is placed in proximity to the tip of a cutting torch B, as shown in Figure 3, or when it is held over a burner from which gas may be discharging.

In the foregoing, I have referred to the member H as being in the form of a hood, or cupshaped, but it is to be understood that in some instances it may be found more desirable to make the drawing, is provided with a multiplicity of it in the form of a perforated plate having means for securing it to one of the legs of the lighter.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gas lighter comprising a pair of relatively swingable arms, ignition means carried by said arms, a hood supported on one of said arms adjacent to the ignition means, said hood being dish-shaped and comprising a bottom wall and an outwardly flared side wall, perforations in said bottom wall adjacent said side wall, and similar perforations in the side wall adjacent the bottom wall, whereby a gaseous fuel directed against said member from any angle may readily be ignited.

2. A gas lighter comprising a pair of spaced arms movable towards and away from one another to operate the lighter, ignition means carried by said arms and made operable by relative movement thereof and a perforated, dish-shaped hood positioned over the ignition means and functioning as a means for intermixing the gas and air to facilitate ignition, said hood having perforations in its side and bottom walls permitting passage of gas therethrough, whereby a gaseous fuel mixture directed against said member from any angle is readily ignited, when the lighter is operated.

3. A gas lighter comprising a pair of spaced arms movable relatively to one another and carrying a suitable ignition means adapted to be made operative to ignite a combustible gas when said arms are relatively moved, one of said arms having a U-shaped portion formed at one end comprising spaced legs having a connection therebetween, and'a hood having suitable apertures therein for receiving the spaced legs of said U-shaped member and the connection therebetween, thereby to secure the hood to the arm to which said U-shaped member is secured, said hood having perforations in the walls thereof for permitting circulation of gas and air therethrough to facilitate combustion, when the lighter is operated over a gas jet.

ELMER H. SMITH. 

